Comparing two magazine covers

Comparing two magazine covers

I decided to annotate a magazine cover which is nothing like what I aim to create to show the importance of colours, the main image and the layout of a magazine. I chose two magazines which had the same model as the main image to show how the editors of the magazines portrayed the model differently to suit their target audience. The model used on both covers is Rihanna, known for being a solo pop star and having raunchy music videos.

The “Seventeen” magazine uses Rihanna as the model for this cover as the target audience of teenage girls inspire and idealise the pop-star. However, the “GQ” magazine uses Rihanna as the model for their cover in a very different sexualised way. They do this to please the eye of their audience and grab the attention of possible new readers. The “Seventeen” magazine presents the model in a fun manor. They do this by having Rihanna make full eye contact and smiling at the camera. This also gives a sense of familiarity. On this cover, the model is also fully dressed, which is unusual for Rihanna. This shows that the magazine is aimed at a younger generation. The teenage girls can relate to what the model is wearing on this cover. The “GQ” magazine presents Rihanna in a very different way. They have her basically naked (only wearing a leather jacket and no under-wear) and with very sexualised body language. This magazine also has the model making full eye contact, but this is in a very suggestive manor, and not in a friendly way like the other magazine.

As the “Seventeen” magazine is aimed at teenage girls, the cover uses a lot of feminine colours, such as pink and purple. The font used on this cover is quite basic to make it look more sophisticated and make the target audience feel more grown up. The “GQ” magazine uses more dull colours such as black and grey with a contrasting bright yellow. These colours are slightly more masculine than they are feminine. The “GQ” magazine also uses a basic font, but also uses block capitals instead of lower case letters. This makes the cover look more sophisticated.

Usually children’s covers are very busy and adults are very basic. As this cover is aimed at teenagers, it is neither basic nor busy, but in the middle. This would make the audience fee more mature. Furthermore, the “GQ” magazine has a very basic layout and isn’t very busy at all.

To conclude, when I create my magazine cover I will used lots of feminine colours and have a very busy layout as my magazine will be aimed towards young girls. I will try different fonts when creating mock-ups, but aim to use a childish font. The main image I use will be a photograph I take myself. It will be of a boy band as young girls care most about that. The image will be simple and friendly and not sexualised at all.